Material-handling apparatus



March Z9, 1927. y

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1,622,902 E. E. BRoslUs MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A A A INVENTOR March 29,1927.

E. E. BROSIUS MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 13. 1925 '7 Sheets-Shoet 6 WWW.

INVENTO m` @Jag o o -P 1,622,902 March 29, 1927. E. E. BROSIUS y MATERlAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 13. 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 @Sie f@ Cil Panarea Mar. 29,` 1927.

UNITED STATES EDGAR E. BROSIUS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS.

` Application led May 13, 1925.

The present invention relates broadly to material handling apparatus, and more paiticularly to apparatus of this character especially adapted for cooperation with furnaces of the character comprising a plurality of retorts arranged in tiers, as; for example, Zinc furnaces, although the utility of the invention is not limited in this respect.

At the present time it is customary in the art to which the present invention relates to construct zinc furnaces with a plurality of superimposed retorts, usually six in numbei'.vi arranged in adjacent tiers. Each of these retoii'ts, from a commercial standpoint, has heretofore required individual charging and discharging. Such individual operation on the retorts has been required due to the fact that the retorts extend at varying angles when initially installed and from the further fact that the intense temperature conditions to which they are subjected frequently result in a change in the initial alignment of the furnaces.

The individual charging` and lischarging of the furnaces is not only extremely diiiicult for the operators, due tothe intense ten'ipcrature conditions, but is also extremely slow, thereby materially cutting down the potential capacity of the furnaces.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an apparatus capable of simultaneously cooperating with a plurality of retorts for the purpose of performing` a similar operation on all of the retorts in a tier. In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated there is disclosed a series of elements particularly adapted for cleaningr the retorts. lt will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many of the features of the invention are equally adaptable to a furnace charging machine, and that if desired the present construction could be utilized for forcing charges into the i'etorts.

'lu the accoinpanyinp,v drawings there is shown, for purposes of illustration only, a

preferred embodiment of the present inven-l tion, it being; understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing either from the lspirit ofthe invention or the scope of my broader claims,

In the drawinof Figure 1 is a perspective view of one foi'm of material handling apparatus embodyingr Serial No. 29,958.

the present invention, the view being taken from a point in the rear of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, the view being taken,l however, from a point in advance of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the construction illustrated inAFigures 1 and 2` the view being taken from the rear side of the apparatus as viewed in these figures;

Figure i is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 3;

F igure 5 is a detail View, on an enlarged scale, partly in section and partly broken away, for the purpose of more clearly in-k dicating the manner of cooling the elements which cooperate with the retorts;

Figure 6 is a plan View, partly broken away, of one of the elements;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly broken away, illustrating the interior construction of the element shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end view showing the cooperating relationship between one of the elements and a retort;

Figure 9 is a detail diagrammatic view7 partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating a portion of the operating mechanism of the apparatus;

Figure l0 is a detail sectional view on the line X-X of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on the line XI-XI of Figure 9 lookingl in the direction of the arrows.

In order to increase the speed of operation of commercial furnace installations of the character embodying a plurality of retorts arranged in tiers, and thereby gmaterially cut down the time required for the charging and cleaning` operations, it is desirable to provide means for simultaneously operating on a plurality of retorts. In this manner not only is the capacity of the furnace increased, but the cost of operation materially decreased, due both to a conserva tion of heat in the rctorts and a saving of time required for the performance of the operations heretofore performed individually on each of the retorts` For purposes of illustratingthe present invention I have disclosed an apparatus iliarticularly adapted to perform the functions of cleaning a plurality of retorts. This apparatus is illustrated as comprising` a movable carrier 2, preferably in the form of a truck adapted lo travel along rails o which may be provided in front of a furnace F, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Such a furnace ordinarily comprises a plurality of retorts R supported gradually increasing downward inclination from the bottom retort up fardly to thereby facilitate operation of the furnace.

Mounted on the carrier 2 is a trolley 4l adapted to travel transversely of the carrier 2 on tracks 5 provided thereon. These tracks, at their outer ends, may be uptnrned as indicated G to form a stop for the outward travel of the trolley 4;, while the forward travel may be limited by suitable stops 7 projecting upwardly from the carrier.

Mounted on the trolley l is an operator-s chair or platform 8 so positioned as to facilitate control and operation of the apparatus. When the trolley Ll is in the outward position illustrated in Figure l the carrier 2 may be moved to any desired position to bring' the apparatus into cooperative relation to a new tier of retorts. At this time, therefore, the operator may reach a control switch 9 and controller l0 for the motor ll which drives the carrier 2. The switch 9 and the controller l() are mounted on the carrier, and therefore are inaccessible, as clearly shown in Figure 2, when the trolley7 is in its forward position. This provides a safety factor, making it impossible for an operator to actuate the wrong controller and thereby damage a furnace with which the apparatus, may be, at any time, cooperating'.

Projecting' upwardly from the front of the carrier 2 is a supporting framework 12 having its uprights spaced to permit the travel of the trolley l therebetween, and serving' to support an elevating; mechanism for the elements E which cooperate with the retorts. This elevating' mechanism preferably comprises spaced rods 13 carrying` adjustable `guides l-l at desired points throughout their length. At their lower ends the rods 13 have a pivotal connection l5 with the outer end of a lever 1G carried by a shaft 17 journaled in the brackets 1S on the carrier frame. At their upper ends the rods have a similar pivotal connection 19 with thc outer end of a lever 2O having its hub 2l. internally threaded to coopera 'e with the threaded portion 22 of a shaft 23 journaled in suitable brackets 24- on the supporting frame l2. The hub 2l also has projecting;1 upwardly therefrom a second arm 25 which carries a rearwardly projecting countcrbalance 26 facilitating the shifting' movement of the elevating' mechanism.

Projecting upwardly from the front of the trolley el is a support 27 herein illustrated as comprising a channel bar. This bar is provided with a series of openines through-its web portion through which the rear portions of the elements E project.

lllach of these elements, as clearly shown in Figures G and 7, comprises a main tubular body portion 28 of constant diameter carrying, at the rear end, an enlarged sleeve 29. Wlithin the sleeve 29, and preferably threaded into the tubular body 28, is a plug 30 having' a central bore 3l adapted to receive an inner tube 32. At its forward end the tubular body 28 may carry a plug having a central projection 3ft for supporting` the outer end of the inner tube 32. Cooperating' with each of the plugs 30 and communicating; with the opening 3l therein is a nipple 35 through which cooling fluid is adapted to be initially delivered to the inner tube 32. This cooling fluid will travel the length of the inner tube to a point adjacent the outer end of the cleaning element, where it is free to escape through the openings 3G into the space 37. The cooling fluid will then tra-vel rearwardly in this space until it reaches the openings 38 through the tubular body 28 which open directly to the atmosphere. This provides means for effectively cooling' each of the elements and preventing damage thereto irrespective of the temperature conditions to which it may bc subjected. @n the outer end of each of the elements there is provided a scraper 39 hercin illustrated, particularly in Figure 8, as being' of generally elliptical contour having a curved lower scraping edge l0 adapted to conform generally to the 1inner surface of a retort R.

Each of the Scrapers 39 is materially smaller than the diameter of a retort whereby the elements may be advanced into a retort above the charge therein, and then dropped to engage the charge and withdrawn to perform the cleaning,- operation.

The .sleeve 29 provides shoulders ll which engage the rear surface of the channel bar 27 and limit the forward movement of the cleaning elements therethrough. Extending,r through cach of the sleeves 29 is a. bolt 42 carrying a cross head 43 adapted to extend in a generally vertical direction and provided with openings A in its opposite ends. A tension spring 4:5 is connected at one end to each of the cross heads by means ot one of the openings -ifland at its opposite end is suitably secured to the channel bar 27. These springs norn'ially urge the elcmcnts E in such position that the shoulders 4i are maintained in engagement with the channel bar. The cross heads 4M; are, in turn, interconnected in such manner to permit relative movement therebetween. This interconnecting means may comprise side chains #e6 spaced so to extend on opposite sides of the sleeves 29 by means of spacers 47. Connected to the outer ends of each of the spacers, the number of which preferably corresponds to the number of cleaninwT elements, are tension springs elS.

lilll lill These tension springs are preferably arranged in pairs, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, and converge toward their upper ends so as to cooperate with the lower ends of the cross heads 43. The lower cross head 47, as shown in Figure 3, may be directly supported from one of the adjacent elements lll by links 49 embodying a compression spring 48.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the cleaning elements are supported adjacent their outer ends by the elevating mechanism 13 while they are supported adjacent their inner ends by the channel bar The adjustable `guides 14 engage the lower sides of the elements only, thereby permitting the elements to move relatively lto the guides and the elevating mechanism. This movement may at times be necessary due to the changing angularities of the retorts, thereby making it impossible to positively guide the elements E by means other than the retorts themselves. This relative movement of the cleaning elements is, in turn, permitted by the flexible connecting springs 48. At the same time, the tension springs permit relative endwise movement of the elements, thereby compensating for variations in the lengths of the retorts or in the conditions existing therein. It will be understood that any positive stoppingr means, such as a chain 45, may be used to prevent damage to the tension springs 45.

The trolley 4 carries a motor 50 by means of which the trolley is adapted to be propelled along the upwardly and forwardly inclined rails 5. This motor may be controlled by a switch 51 on the trolley and a control 52, the switch 5l and the control 52 always being accessible to an operator on the seat 8 whereby he can advance the trolley or withdraw the same at will.

Also mounted on the trolley is a second motor 53 adapted to operate a fluid compressor 54 effective for delivering air through an outlet 55 to a manifold 56 extending vertically in the rear of the ,channel bar 27. This manifold, in turn, hasv a flexible connection 57 to the nipple 35 of each of the elements E whereby cooling fluid may be continuously delivered to the elements during the ope 'ation of the apparatus.

For operating the elevating mechanism 13 for simultaneously raising the outer ends of cach of the elements to bring the same into such position that they may be initially `guided into the retorts R, the shaft 17 is provided with a lever 58 to which is connected a cable 59 extending rearwardly of the carrier 2 and passing upwardly over a pulley 60 journaled in suitable brackets 61 on the trolley 4 and thence to a bracket- 62 on which it is dead-ended. Journaled on the pin 63 which carries the pulley 60 is a foot lever 64 having at its lower end a pulley 65 below which passes the cable 59, The lever 64 is preferably bifurcated at its upper end, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and carries a foot piece 66 in position to be engaged by the operator. By reason of this construction it will be apparent that if the operator presses downwardly land forwardly on the foot piece 66 to move the lever (54 from its full line position of Figure 11 to its dotted line position, he will exert tension on the cable 59 which will, in turn, be effective for rocking the levers 16 and 58 in a clockwise direction for raising the rods 18. In this manner all of the elements E may be simultaneously elevated into such positions as to enter the open ends of the retorts. Having entered the retorts it is necessary to permit the elevating mechanism to drop to its original position as the guides 14 would be effective for rigidly supporting the elements. Such rigid supporting would endanger the retort-s and would prevent such relative movementas is necessary by reason both of the varying inclinations of the retorts and the different positions to which they may have moved after installation either by warping, burning or the like, In order to maintain the cleaning elements in elevated position against the upper walls of the retorts during the time they are being projected thereinto, and after the elevating mechanism has been lowered, use is made of the chains 46 and the resilient connections 48 and 48. lThis is accomplished by extending the chains 46 downwardly, as clearly shown in Figures 3, 9 and 10, to a pulley 67 mounted on a shaft G8 carried by the truck 4. On one end of this shaft is mounted a second pulley 69 to which is dead-ended one end of a cable 70 which passes partly around the pulley in such manner as to tend to rotate the shaft 68 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 10, when tension Lis exerted thereon. This cable passes upwardly around a snubbing drum 71 on the front axle 72 of the trolley 4 and thence downwardly to the lower end of a lever 73. This lever is of a construction similar' to that of the lever 64, and is provided with a pulley 74 at its lower end and a foot piece 75 at its upper end. By moving the lever 73 from its full line position of Figure 10 to its dotted line position, the cable 70 is drawn in such manner as to tal-:e up slack around the snubbing drum, whereupon the forward travel of the trolley 4 becomes effective for exerting tension on the chains 46 to an extent sufficient to pull downwardly on the rear ends of all of the elen'ients E :nd thereby raise the front ends into engagement with the upper walls of the retorts while permitting such relative 'movement thereof as may be necessary for the reasons before pointed out. This permits the operator to continue the advance of the trolley 4 until the elements E are entirely positionedwithin the retorts, aili'ter which pressure is released from the foot piece permitting` the front ends of the elements E to tall downwardly into the position shown in Figure 8, in which position they engage any material within the retorts. Thereupon, the direction oit movement of the trolley e may be reversed tor the purpose of positively drawing)l the elements E rearwardly and thereby clean the retorts. lt will be apparent that the elements may be quickly moved into position within the retorts as a. unit and thereafter withdrawn as a unit whereby a. plurality of retorts are simultaneously operated upon. ln this manner the time required for a complete operation on a plurality of retorts is materially reduced, thereby increasing the potential capacity oit the furnace as well as conservin the time of the operator and the heat et ed up in the furnace.

lt will be readily understood that the snub-- hing drum il may be applied'to either axle of the trolley. It applied'to the rear axle the point otIv attachment ot the cable 70 will obviously be above the pivotal mountii'ig,` ot the lever 73, and the pulley ill may be omitted.

The snubbing` drum may be ot the slip friction type, and may be automatically operable in either or both directions at will. ln some cases the guides 14: be locatedL above the elements E and the guides positively lowered to position the elements. In such case, upon the advance ot the trolley the snubbing` drum will hold up the elements when the guide is released, and upon the return movement the snubbing drum will be effec-tive for exerting a holding` down action on the element-s.

At times it may be necessary, due to misalignment o'f the retorts ot an individual tier, or from other causes, to malte some adjustment ot the elements after the carrier has been moved to its final position. ln order to provide for such adjustment, the shalt 23 has secured to its outer end a chain wheel 76 around which passes a chain 76a, the rear end of the chain cooperatingwith an idler 77 carried by a bracket 78 on the carrier Q. Upon actuatingthis chain the sliatt may be rotated in either direction at will to thereby move the hub 2l longitutlinallv thereof by reason ot the threaded portion 22 on the shaft. .ln this manner the elements may be moved laterally relatively to the carrier as may be necessary. The pivotal connection l5 and the shaft mounting; li' may be such to allowA tor the limited lateral movement herein contemplated.

The drawings are illustrative ot a single form of head only. Several different terms, embodying movable or adjustable parts or blades have also been used to advantage, and

the invention contemplates such modifications. rlhe elements l@ may also be given a slight rotative movement either tor the purpose of bringingV the scrapers into operation, orftor cleaning the sides ot the retorts.

Any desirable form ol heat shield may be used at will for the front ol the apparatus in order to shield the operator troni the intense heat oit the retorts.

rlhe advantages ot the present inveniion arise from the provision ot' an apparatus ot the general character re'l'erred'to havingl a plurality oit elements adapted lor simultaneons cooperation with a plurality of retorts and in which the elements are relatively movable to accommodate varying conditions with respect to the positioning ol' the retorts.

Further advantages arise 'from the provision ot a plurality of resiliently interconnected elements whereby all of the elements may be simultaneously moved or whereby any ot' the elements may move relatively to the others.

Still further advantages arise from the means for positively elevating all ot the elements for properly centering` the same, and from the provision of means thereafter effective for yieldingly supporting the elcin their upper positions.

I claim:

l. A furnace cleaning machine, comprising a plurality ot cleaning elements, meansl `l'or simultaneously operating all ot said elements, and yielding,` means interconnecting said cleaning elements to permit relative movement thereof.

2. A. furnace cleaning machine, comprisingv a plurality of cleaningr scrapers, means tor sinniltaneously advancing or withdrawing all ot said Scrapers, means for positively' moving` all ot' said scrapers vertically, and yielding` compensating means permitting` individual scrapers to move vertically di'llerent amounts.

3. A furnace cleaning;v machine, comprising' a plurality ot cleaning' elements, means for simultaneously advancing` or withdrawing,` all otl said elements, and resilient means for simultaneously moving vertically all of said elements wihile permitting relative movement thereof.

ll. A furnace cleanim;` machine, coi'mnising a plurality of relatively movable cleaningij'elements, and means t'or simultaneously advancing or retracting all et said elements, said means being` operative upon itsl 'forward movement lor raising said elenients.

5. A cleaning machine, con'iprisingg a plurality ot yieldingly interconnected cleaning elements, and means for simultaneously operating all of said elements.

6. A material handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of relatively movable yieldingly interconnected elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means for simultaneously operating all of said elements.

7. A material handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of relatively movable elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, means for positively positioning all of said elements, and means for yieldiugly positioning all of said elements.

8. A material handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of relatively movable elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means for yieldingly and simultaneously vertically moving` all of said elements.

9. A n'iaterial handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, means for simultaneously advancing` all of said elements, said means including yielding connections permitting relative endwise movement between the elements, and means for simultaneously raising all of said elements, said means including yielding` connections permitting relative vertical movement between the elements.

l0. A material handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts,l supporting` means for said elements, means cooperating with said elements adjacent one end thereof positively vertically moving the same, and means adjacent the opposite end thereof for yieldingly vertically moving the same to permit relative movement' therebetween.

11. A material handling apparatus, comprising movable carrier, a trolley mounted thereon, a plurality of relatively movable elements at least partially supported by said trolley and adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means operable upon the forward movement of' said trolley for simultaneously positioning` all of said elements.

l2. A material handling apparatus, com-` prising a movable carrier, a trolley movably supported thereby, a plurality of elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means effective upon movement of said trolley in at least one direction for simultaneously vertically moving all of said elements.

13. A material handling apparatus, comprising a movable carrier, a trolley movably supported thereby, a plurality of elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and'means effective upon movement of said trolley in at least one direction for simultaneously and yieldingly vertically moving all of said elements.

14. A material handling apparatus, comprising a carrier, a plurality of elements movable relatively to said carrier and adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, means operative while the carrier is stationary for laterally adjusting said elements, means operative while the carrier is stationary for vertically adjusting all of said elements, and means permitting relative vertical movement of said elements.

15. A material handling apparatus, comprising a plurality of elements adapted for simultaneous cooperation with a plurality of retorts, supporting means for said elements, means cooperating with one portion of said elements for positively vertically moving the same, and means cooperating with another portion of said elements for yieldingly vertically moving the same to permit relative movement therebetween.

16. A furnace cleaning machine, comprising a plurality of cleaning elements, means for advancing or withdrawing all of said elements at will, and resilient means for effecting vertical movement of said elements while permitting relative movement therebetween.

17. A material handling apparatus, comprising a movable carrier, a trolley movably supported thereby, a plurality of elements adapted for cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means effective upon movement of said trolley in at least one direction :for effecting yieldingly vertical movement of said elements.

18. A material handling apparatus, comprising a movable carrier, a trolley movably supported thereby, an inclined supporting track for said trolley, a plurality of elements adapted for cooperation with a plurality of retorts, and means effective upon movement of said trolley upwardly along said track for yieldingly vertically moving all of said elements.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set m hand.

y EDGAR n. Baosius. 

